Severe gum infections linked to heightened AFib risk
Periodontitis, a severe gum infection, may increase a patient’s risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to findings published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.[1]
“Periodontitis is associated with a long-standing inflammation, and inflammation plays a key role in atrial fibrosis progression and AFib pathogenesis,” first author Shunsuke Miyauchi, an assistant professor at Hiroshima University, said in a prepared statement. “We hypothesized that periodontitis exacerbates atrial fibrosis. This histological study of left atrial appendages (LAAs) aimed to clarify the relationship between clinical periodontitis status and degree of atrial fibrosis.”
Miyauchi et al. examined data from 76 AFib patients scheduled to undergo LAA excision at the same hospital from April 2020 to January 2022. All patients underwent a full oral exam by a dentist within three days of the procedure.
After removing each patient’s LAA and reviewing the oral exam results, the authors concluded that more severe cases of periodontitis were associated with more severe cases of atrial fibrosis, leading to a greater AFib risk.
“Further evidence is required for establishing that periodontitis contributes to the atrial fibrosis in a causal manner and that periodontal care can alter fibrosis,” corresponding author Yukiko Nakano, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Hiroshima University, said in the same prepared statement. “One of our goals is to confirm that periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor for AFib and to promote dental specialists’ participation in comprehensive AFib management. Periodontitis is an easy modifiable target with lower cost among known atrial fibrillation risk factors. Thus, the achievement of this study series may bring benefits for many people worldwide.”
One key takeaway from the team’s analysis was that a causal relationship between periodontitis and atrial fibrosis/AFib could not be established. This means that their study may have helped confirm the association—but is unclear if gum infections typically lead to heart rhythm issues or if heart rhythm issues typically lead to gum infections.
The researchers have already made plans to study this link in more detail; their hope is to see if certain periodontitis-focused interventions can reduce AFib rates and boost patient outcomes.
The full study is available here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.